René Lavanchy reports on the Communication Workers’ Union conference
Archive for May, 2010
Postal workers union has Royal Mail privatisation and BT in its sights
By René Lavanchy /Friday, May 28th, 2010The Leadership debate needs all six contenders
By Tribune Editorial /Friday, May 28th, 2010What the Labour Party needs is a proper campaign by a broad range of candidates. The artificial hurdle of MPs’ nominations should be scrapped
Leadership candidates promise more places for women in top jobs
By René Lavanchy /Friday, May 28th, 2010Leading figures in the Labour Party have pressed for greater women’s representation in the top echelons of the party
There’s no relief in opposition for Labour
By Kevin Maguire /Friday, May 28th, 2010Kevin Maguire asks why so many in Labour seem to think a period in opposition is a good thing
Britain’s elderly are happy and healthy, survey shows
By David Hencke /Friday, May 28th, 2010Study shows that the elderly are, on balance, happier and healthier than ever before
Israel defiant amid nuke controversy
By Bernard Purcell /Friday, May 28th, 2010Israel has struggled to dismiss documentary evidence that it tried to sell nuclear weapons to the white South African régime in the 1970s
RMT asks European Court to overturn strike laws
By René Lavanchy /Friday, May 28th, 2010Transport workers’ union RMT has begun action in the European courts to overturn a recent rash of anti-strike injunctions
Swedish ‘free’ schools show ‘steep decline’
By Bernard Purcell /Friday, May 28th, 2010The Swedish ‘free’ schools endorsed by Education Secretary Michael Gove have been an embarrassing failure in their country of origin
EU gets tough with Albania’s factions
By Kate Holman /Friday, May 28th, 2010The European Union has tried to break the political deadlock between rival parties in Albania
Who will be the first defector from the Con-Dem coalition?
By John Street /Thursday, May 27th, 2010Dave and Nick may be infatuated with one another, but even they must be doubtful the marriage of inconvenience can last five years So who will be the first to jump ship having conceded this love across the divide was doomed from the start?
Could an excitable Conservative right-winger explode over some real or imagined slight involving the European Union? Liam Fox looks prone to apoplexy. Vince Cable, charged with implementing Tory cuts amounting to millions, looks so miserable that he might soon be advised to consult a doctor – not Liam Fox, obviously. Former Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy, who refused to back the deal, is another who might benefit from a change of scene and the view he would get back on the opposition benches.
Perhaps David Steel, who has experience of making deals with those he couldn’t stand (David Owen) and those he could (Jim Callaghan) should be asked to set up a branch of Relate at the Palace of Westminster. Better not call it a quango, though.